West Ham news: Craig Dawson should be banned for what he did to Liverpool player as new footage analysed – Ex-PL referee
Craig Dawson should have been sent off for West Ham as they lost 1-0 to Liverpool on Saturday (5 March), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Dawson should have been shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Sadio Mane.
The West Ham defender was initially booked for fouling Luis Diaz just outside the penalty area on the half-hour mark.
In footage relayed on Reddit, he can be seen stamping on Mane’s heel early on in the second half.
A foul was given but Dawson was not given his marching orders and the game continued.
“Dawson knew exactly what he was doing,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He got Sadio Mane on his right ankle. For me, that was at least a yellow card so he had to go.
“He was a very lucky guy to escape that one. The more I watch it, the worse it is.
“It’s difficult for Jon Moss to see that, you have to be ideally positioned. This is what TV pulls out.
“Of course, if I think it’s a yellow then VAR is thinking it’s a yellow but can’t come in because it’s a second yellow card. It can only come in on a straight red.
“That’s a flaw in the VAR system.”
A red card would have seen Dawson banned for West Ham’s game with Aston Villa at the weekend (13 March).
He would have not been suspended for their Europa League game with Sevilla on Thursday (10 March).
In other news, it can be revealed Liverpool are on course to make a “phenomenal” £550million announcement.